Open AccessUse of Sawdust- Biochar Amended Wood Pulp as A Substrate for Container Cultivation
Author(s) -
M Mithuna
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal for research in applied science and engineering technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2321-9653
DOI - 10.22214/ijraset.2021.38195
Subject(s) - sawdust , bagasse , pulp (tooth) , biochar , pulp and paper industry , perlite , seedling , environmental science , softwood , hardwood , amendment , agronomy , waste management , materials science , botany , engineering , composite material , medicine , pathology , pyrolysis , political science , law , biology
Soilless substrates have many advantages over soil based system as they provide optimal conditions for plant growth when compared to soil-based agricultural practices. Different substrates are currently being used as support to the root system of plant. Substrates can be organic such as peat, bark, bagasse, sawdust, rice hulls, wood chips, etc. They can be inorganic mineral based such as sand, gravel, perlite, and stone wool slab. As the second phase of an earlier work by one of the authors on softboard as a novel wood fibre-based substrate for hydroponic systems, the present study was carried out to explore the effects of biochar amendment to wood pulps (or pulp wastes generated from fiberboard factories), on seed germination and seedling growth of Green gram (Phaseolus aureus) crop. The study also included a comparison of seedling growth in hardwood pulp and softwood pulp and to select the most suitable one for container cultivations. Keywords: Sawdust, biochar, wood pulp, green gram, container cultivation